Stock Pigeon

Columba oenas oenas (Linnaeus, 1758)

Description

General colour is darker than yarkandensis, under parts are more grey-bluish, less ashy-grey than yarkandensis; mantle is usually brownish tinged. Male wing length 196-228 (212), female 200-215 (208) mm.

Distribution

Breeds in middle current of Ural valley and probably in its lower reaches from Uralsk to Chapaevo. Probably nests in some places of Northern Kazakhstan. In summer observed in Shortandy area, Western Altai and Bukhtarma valley, between Ust-Kamenogorsk and Ridder, in Semipalatinsk vicinities. Nest was found 21 July 2001 at clay cliff on Orta-Terekty canyon, Dzhungarskiy Alatau. On migration occurs everywhere. In winter the flock of 12 birds observed 18 December 1963 in lower reaches of Emba, near Krasnokutsk village, in Bukhtarma valley.